PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pauly Barone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robert Smith acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Barone
vs
Smith

195 cm
20
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
27
191 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pauly Barone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Smith!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a jab when Barone was well out of range.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barone defends it nicely.
Robert Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barone displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.

Barone shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smith napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.
Smith regains half guard.
Barone thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Smith is positioning himself well to prevent Barone advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to hold on to Barone's head to control him but Barone postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Barone seems to be looking for submissions.
Barone throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Smith is looking to control Barone's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barone is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Smith tries to hold on but Barone pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Barone there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Barone gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Barone takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Smith tries to hold on but Barone pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Robert Smith wasn't active enough on the ground.
Barone throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barone sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pauly Barone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Smith.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith thuds a left hand into Barone's body.
Barone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Barone does no damage.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barone pinned against the cage. Barone gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barone doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.

Barone moves into the clinch.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Barone tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is keeping an eye on Barone - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Barone missing with knees to the body.
Barone lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Robert Smith has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pauly Barone will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Robert Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barone slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith throws a right and a left that Barone avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barone is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Barone circles away and we're back to standing.

Barone closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Barone looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Barone wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barone is working away from the top position though.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barone pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pauly Barone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barone pulls his head out easily.
Smith wants to improve his position but Barone is controlling well.
Barone stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Smith is staying active underneath Barone, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smith is trying to control but Barone manages to pass to mount!
Barone takes Smith's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Smith is in trouble.
Smith covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barone gets his hands free as Smith looks to control.
Barone is hanging on to Smith's back as he tries to escape.
Smith just trying to survive but Barone is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Barone is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Smith knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Smith for a finish.
Smith just trying to survive but Barone is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Barone controlling well, preventing Smith from escaping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barone is trying to stick to Smith's back but Smith is turning into Barone. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Barone's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauly Barone dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Robert Smith's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Barone misses with a jab to the body
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barone tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barone tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barone leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Barone rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
Smith takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice elbow from Barone.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barone smiles and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barone throws an elbow that misses.
Smith blocks the elbow strike.
Barone throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith fails to pull guard.
Pauly Barone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Smith.
Barone lands a nice elbow.

That has opened up Robert Smith's cut even more.
Barone throws an elbow but it misses.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barone walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Smith connects with a body shot.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Barone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Barone gets a takedown into half guard.

Barone seems to be looking for submissions.

Barone is looking for a kimura here.
Barone not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barone wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.
Barone missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Smith is defending against the submission attempts here by Barone.

Smith actively working from the bottom here.
Robert Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barone is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Barone eventually gives up the hold.

Barone seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barone is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Pauly Barone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barone trying to mount his opponent but Smith defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pauly Barone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barone, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pauly Barone!